From BTEC Health and Social Care to a career in midwifery
More than ever, midwives are needed in the NHS. The best way to begin a career in midwifery is to progress to Higher Education with a Level 3 qualification such as the BTEC Level 3 National in Health and Social Care.
Jonathan Cliffe completed his BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care and is now a Midwife Team Leader at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
We caught up with Jonathan to discuss his BTEC and journey to university, the best parts about being a midwife, and the exisiting gender imbalance within the profession.
Firstly, could you tell us more about your current role and the journey that led you to it?
I currently work as midwife team leader for a continuity of care team and support women and their families who have additional vulnerabilities, such as mental health, non-English speakers, and previous neonatal losses. My role involves providing continuity of care to a cohort of women and undertaking their antenatal and postnatal care in the community setting. I also work in the intrapartum setting which increases the chance of me attending their birth.
I was actively encouraged by my college tutors to pursue a midwifery career and I have always been thankful for that encouragement.
I started my midwifery training in 2012 at the University of Bangor. It was there where I truly learnt what midwifery was, prior to this I wasn’t sure what I was letting myself in for.
In 2021, the Nursing & Midwifery Council reported that 89% of the people on their register in England identify as female, while just 11% identify as male. What are your thoughts on the gender split existing within the midwifery profession today?
We must continue to tackle gender stereotypes in every profession. I truly believe that if we want to see a change in the way certain professional roles are perceived we must start at the beginning. I remember being encouraged by my BTEC tutors who instilled a sense of belief in my ability to aim high and become whatever I wanted to be regardless of social stereotypes.
Educating the young of today will surely help bring about change in attitudes to gender equality; ensuring children know that the possibilities in their lives and careers are endless. My BTEC tutors certainly did this for me.
In your opinion, what are the best parts about being a midwife?
Midwives are privileged people who get to share precious moments with women and are entrusted by them to play a vital role in their childbirth experience.
When you remove the jargon, politics, paperwork, internal and external demands, a midwife is someone a woman and her family will never forget. Knowing this simple truth is a reward in itself.
And finally, what would you say to any current and prospective learners considering a career in the health and social care sector?
Embrace all opportunities presented to you. A career in the health and social care profession is a privilege and if you can understand this at the start of your career this will help shape the professional you will one day become.
Listen to those who want to teach you, believe in yourself and in who you want to be.